Celebrate 100 Episodes of bindwaves!

Listen as we celebrate our 100th episode for bindwaves this week! Today, we learn about the many accomplishments of the last two years at BIND, and introduce our new co-host, Brittany. The recap episode guest is Brian White, our executive director. Our members are proud of the money raised for our annual walk, North Texas Giving Day, golf tournament, and auction. We review the interest of starting a new clubhouse in Houston. In the last year, we have greatly increased our efficiency, attributed by members serving in various leadership roles. With Kezia stepping aside as a co-host, as she continues to go back to school, we are now introducing our new co-host, Brittany, a car crash and TBI survivor, from the Fort Worth clubhouse. The podcast has been very popular with more than 37,000 downloads, and we are excited with what we have planned for 2025.

Transcript

0:00

Instrumental

Kezia: 0:09

Hi, I'm Kezia, a stroke survivor and member of BIND.

Carrie: 0:13

And hi, I'm Keri, a stroke survivor and a member of BIND as well. And today, we have a super exciting show for you because it's, drumroll please, our 100th episode! We're so excited, yay! On this episode, we'll recap 2024, and give you a hint of what's to come for 2025 BINDWAVES. And we also have invited our Executive Deck Director, Brian White, to join us to give us a full recap of the Brain Injury Network 2024 and what's to come in 2025. So welcome, Brian.

Brian: 0:45

Thank you. I'm excited to be here for the 100th episode.

Kezia: 0:48

I almost thought you'd said 110th. I was like, wow, I really did.

Brian: 0:55

I hope to be here for the 110th episode.

Kezia: 0:59

Yeah, me too. Me too. But just for you listeners to know, um, this might sound a little bit different than the last couple of episodes. Or I don't know. Yeah. But yes, it might sound a little bit different. It's kind of, um, our round tables. It's just going to be a conversation between Carrie and I and our director. And we're just going to have little hints, uh, throughout our conversation. So,

Carrie: 1:24

it's great to be sitting at the table here with the three of us together. Let's get down to the 2024 recap. Glad to have you here, Brian. And we want to share the update of the Brain Injury Network clubhouses as the big umbrella and why we have BINDways running. And to update our listeners on all the Plano and Fort Worth club lessons, have a great day. What clubhouses have accomplished and what 2025 holds for the organization?

Brian: 1:48

Sure, sure. So, you know, in the spring we have our annual walk. In the last two years we've been really focused on the growth of that walk, and this year was no exception to that. We actually doubled our participation this year to nearly 500 people. Uh, we were very financially successful and raised almost$40, 000 this year, so that's very cool. And, uh, we have our contract in place for next year already to, uh, have the walk on March 29th. Uh, it will be a Toyota Music Factory again, and it won't be a construction zone this year, so. That's a plus. That's a big plus. We're looking to continue our growth trajectory. I don't think we plan to double again this year, but we do expect it to be bigger than last year, so.

Kezia: 2:35

Yeah, I think that would be super exciting. And just to make sure, March 29th, 2025. So, yeah, so all of us are really, um, active in that. So we do ask for our listeners to join us and come see us at Toyota Music Factory in 2025.

Brian: 2:54

Yeah, and then this fall, we always participate in North Texas Giving Day, and we had another successful campaign this year, raising over$30, 000. So, we're just shy of raising$200, 000 in 10 years, and in the last 3 years, we've raised nearly$100, 000. So, we're very excited about that ongoing campaign with Community Foundations, and appreciate all the support that that organization gives us as well. And then we just finished up our, uh, 2024 golf, golf, uh, clubhouse classic golf tournament. Uh, we increased our golfers this year by about 20%, which is really exciting. And, uh, we actually increased our net income by about 125 percent this year. So we were very excited. Uh, we partnered with, um, Tour 18 golf course this year and the presenting sponsor was Texas Rehab Hospital in Fort Worth and Keller. And we're very grateful for their support as well as all of our event sponsors as well. So that was a lot of fun. We had much better weather this year. Last year was 59 and rainy and this year was like 85 degrees and perfect. So. It was very nice. So we, we plan to continue to have that golf tournament year after year in the fall and look forward to the growth of that event as well. So then we have, uh, since April, we've started a project that has, uh, is focused on the accreditation of our clubhouses. It's called CARF, which stands for the Commission of Accreditation of Rehab Facilities. They're an international organization and they've accredited over 60, 000 organizations worldwide. So we're very excited about that possibility as it will really positively impact the organization and proves to the world that we do operate according to good business standards and that we provide the services to our members that really need it and in a way that they need it. So we're pretty excited about that That'll actually be coming up. Um In the end of december we have dates now. It'll be a December 18th to the 20th. And, um, as a result of that, it spawned several other projects this year. We've put in a new accounting system. We put in a new payroll system. We implemented a 401k for our staff. We've added a learning management system for training. We've added a document management system. Um, and I feel like I'm forgetting something else, but we, we've been very, very busy this year with a lot of administrative and efficiency gains, uh, through all those systems, so.

Carrie: 5:35

The online attendance.

Brian: 5:36

Oh yeah, that's the other one, is we went to a, an online check, uh, check in for members so they just scan their card and, and a QR code scans them in and scans them out of the clubhouse, so.

Carrie: 5:47

Yeah, it makes us really feel like we're going to work in a business.

Brian: 5:50

Yeah, yeah.

Kezia: 5:51

And I actually was going to talk about that too. I feel like maybe our listeners will be like, Oh, this sounds so boring. It's like about the staff. But no, it's actually about the members, the brain injury survivors as well. And it's, A lot of us actually are doing that work. So we're learning new skills and we're learning how to do things virtually and on computers. And some of us don't have access to that or don't know even how to use it. But some of us, like me, we grew up with that and we kind of lost it somewhere between the stroke and now, right? So it gives us that opportunity to like really learn how, To use it again and or to make it even better and have a new skill So it's not just for staff and it's not boring. It's actually kind of fun fun challenges

Carrie: 6:35

Yeah, and it sounds silly we talk about we're online Well what we used to do just for the listeners so you get it But we used to we would come in and we would actually handwrite just on a piece of paper And then you know how easy it is for paper to get lost So did we really keep good accurate records now, you know, we go and scan and it is I'm checking into the clubhouse, so it's, it's much more efficient and it helps too. It sounds silly, but even like when we have, if we ever were to have a fire, but even just fire drills, we check out when we go to lunch like you do in a real job. Um, so if we were to have a fire, the staff can look up the system on their phone and go, oh crap, Carrie says she's still here. I don't find her. Send the fireman. Please send the fireman in to come get me. But it really, it has a lot of useful benefits that one wouldn't think about, so.

Brian: 7:23

Yeah, and really that's part of a kind of a broader Clubhouse Texas, uh, Initiative Clubhouse, Texas is an organization we belong to. That is a group of all of the clubhouses, both mental health clubhouses and brain injury clubhouses in the state of Texas. I think we have 16 members in that group. 16 different clubhouses and, um. A lot of the clubhouses have moved to this new system as well so that we can actually present to the state, kind of, you know, as an organization of clubhouses, this is how many members statewide we're actually serving every day. So that's more meaningful than, you know, yeah, we've checked in 15 people today, you know, so,

Kezia: 8:08

yeah. And I think that's really important to, like, highlight because Texas is gigantic. And just here, First Clubhouse is in the whole state of Texas and here we are doing this much work within the brain injury community in Dallas slash Plano and in Fort Worth and hopefully soon somewhere else.

Brian: 8:29

Yeah, that leads me to the last bullet point I have today, and that's really, uh, our investigation, uh, into our growth for a clubhouse, possibly in Houston. And that is coming up imminently next week, uh, on Thursday, October 24th, we're having

Kezia: 8:45

This should have drumroll.

Brian: 8:47

We're having a community forum. that's hosted at the Moody Neuro Rehab Institute down there. And, um, we're just investigating the possibility of, you know, where, when, how much, where do we need to be? Do we have volunteers? Do we have the financial support? Just really trying to gather as much data, uh, about making a decision like that as possible. But ultimately the Brain Injury Network, really wants to provide these kinds of services to all the major metropolitan areas in Texas eventually. Short of anybody else coming in to start brain injury clubhouses and we'd be happy to help anybody that wanted to do that as well. So

Carrie: 9:26

Sure and I'll just let y'all know so this 100th episode will actually be Or publish, however you want to say it. Next Thursday, October 24th, the forum will be that this day. And when you're listening to this episode, October 24th from six to nine at the Moody.

Brian: 9:43

6 to 8.

Carrie: 9:44

6 to 8.

Brian: 9:45

At, uh, 1275 Space Park Drive, Webster, Texas.

Carrie: 9:51

So, even if this is your first time hearing about it, come on down and join us.

Brian: 9:56

Yeah, and, you know, I know this isn't gonna go out, you know, before the meeting or on the day of the meeting, but if you want to register, you can do that through our website as well. So, we'd like to see you come out if you're in the Houston area.

Kezia: 10:09

Yeah, and if you can't go, we do can have an ability to email us and ask for your, your needs and give us feedback because Brain Injury Network will have to grow with the feedback, the guidance from the people that are actually living there, right? Like we're all brain injury survivors. We have caregivers, families that were, um, affected, um, or had challenges, um, within our, our experience. So hearing from someone that's actually in the community, that would be so, so helpful of how we can, um, Um, help within the Houston community. So,

Brian: 10:47

Yeah, and I know, you know, another thing that you guys planned on talking about is, is some of the growth of this, uh, podcast as well. And I'm excited that that was part of the clubhouse and part of our growth. We sat down and we made goals for this year. And I feel like we've really made great strides at achieving those goals. So congratulations BINDWAVES team. And, uh, you know, It's 100 percent member driven now, so that's a huge step. The first two years, staff was involved. Early on, we were very involved and just slowly pulled away and pulled away. But, no, I'd really like to congratulate this team as well for all they've done.

Carrie: 11:26

Thank you so much. And that kind of leads me in what I said. So the growth and development of the Brain Injury Network as a whole, all this stuff we're talking about and that we've been doing for the last 12 years, um, is what has actually led and allowed to us to be able to have this BINDWAVES podcast. I mean, without the Brain Injury Network, without the support of the community, we would not have this podcast. So that's pretty cool. Um, so with that, the BINDWAVES podcast, Some of the accomplishments of the Brain Injury Network, the podcast has been able to set up quality episodes as one of our goals, and we feel accomplished that we've, that we have met that. But of course, there's always room for improvement. Sorry, we're going to still mess up our words, but, you know, that's who we are. We have actually increased our episode length to at least 25 minutes, which was one of our biggest goals. So we're proud of that. Occasionally, you know, a little shorter, but. Um, we've moved into a new studio space that I don't think some of you may be able to tell, but, um, we have moved into a new space. We've updated our equipment. We have a new, true Apple Mac PC that helps us store everything a little bit better and run more efficiently. We have, um, a brand new big TV screen, so when we do our virtual recordings, we can actually see them and communicate with them much easier. And we have brand new cameras all the way around, so. It's pretty exciting stuff going on here at the BIND waves on my pages are out of order.

Brian: 12:56

Well, I think it's going to talk about some of the actual goals that we met, you know, and we did increase our Instagram followers, uh, to 230 this year.

Rick: 13:04

Yes.

Brian: 13:05

So we're definitely on track as we've already surpassed that goal this year. So

Rick: 13:11

that's

Brian: 13:11

very exciting. Uh, and you know, this is small potatoes. We're never going to like, you know, monetize our channel or anything like that. But. You know, it's fun to still set goals and work towards those goals. It's very important, I think, even, even minor things, so.

Kezia: 13:25

Yeah, and I actually think that it's even more important, like, our monetizing, that might not be the right word, but we don't need to make money out of these things. Our money is the way that we serve our community. Communities and like our experiences to serve others. I think that's the most important thing of this. And then also setting goals are so important in our recovery. So these are goals that Brian, the director, didn't say, hey, you guys need 230. You're like, no, we as brain injury survivors and team, we decided this is what we can do. And not gonna lie. I was like, well, how are we gonna double? But we did. We did. And it's barely October and that wasn't due till December. So we figured out different strategies and our abilities, what we can commit to. And what we can do. And I'm so proud that we as a team did figure that out and we were able to do that.

Brian: 14:21

I'm very, again, I'm very proud of the team for that as well. I know it was kind of a tough discussion when we were sitting there saying, okay, what are these goals going to be? You know, and, but, you know, I knew you guys could do it. So. Another thing, we've increased our YouTube subscribers from 64 last year to 135. So that's basically doubling that goal as well. Uh, we've increased our YouTube, uh, not YouTube, our Spotify listeners, uh, subscribers to, um, 120 this year. So, you know, again, we're not setting any world records here, but I am. So proud of the work you guys do and the way we have continued to expand this, you know, when we first started is like, do you guys want to continue the podcast? Yeah. No, do you really want to continue? And you know, and, and it has it it's, you know, we're, we're doing it. We're two and a half years down the road now and doing great, so right now we, this year we've had a total of 3, 740 total downloads from all over the globe. North and South America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. So we're doing good.

Carrie: 15:28

We're doing great. And we're all learning new life skills that we never thought we'd do. Well except for me and my talking. Telling my teachers all my life, I said, you talk too much, I'm going to make a living out of it. I'm getting paid to do this, but it's fun.

Brian: 15:42

Yeah, so one last thing that I'm going to plug is that we're actually looking to hire uh sometime this fall as well another part time unit coordinator for the Plano Clubhouse. We feel like the growth of this clubhouse specifically has kind of reached a point where we need somebody else to kind of step in and help out uh as we continue to grow so that's pretty exciting.

Carrie: 16:03

That is very exciting

Kezia: 16:04

That is so exciting and obviously we'll be mentioning the Plano Clubhouse what, where to go to, what website at the end. Um, but we share that all the time. So the best important thing to do as a listener, um, to keep telling people about us. That way we get more followers and we keep doing the outreach and advocacy for what we've experienced and also sharing the website so you can keep updated with the whole clubhouse and the podcast. I also just wanted to let all of you, I think Carrie mentioned it earlier, um, that we have had a lot of updates that maybe if you listen to us only on Spotify, you may not know. But if you see us on YouTube, you can see some of these things. But still, you might not be able to see all of the background work that is being done by Clubhouse members and those of the team of the podcast. That cannot be seen. But we've done so much in 2024, and I think that's like, Personally, the thing that I like the most of everything we've done in the past two and a half years is that we have, it has been more work for Carrie and I to be doing. You are, we are the faces that you see, but there are so many more members that are doing the work so that it's possible to continue doing for the long term. So, yeah, so all of this work is being done in the background, um, but again, like we, we set our own rules, our, our own goals. We are also setting up how to teach people what to do that I would never have known that I would know how to do. Um, so we've done that and we literally are very proud to say that we are one hundred percent. Um, member run, um, podcast. So we might not make things easier for us because it is our ongoing recovery and our own practice to be continuing to challenge ourselves and learn new skills or enhance the skills that we had before the stroke or brain injury. Um, so yeah, obviously we started this whole thing with the guidance of the staff. Um, and then it kind of just became an ongoing thing and then it we are just taking this, like, one by one, um, to how to teach people and we now have all of these roles that we can literally save members, brain injury survivors. Like, hey, we need someone that's interested in social media. We might not be perfect at it, but who's interested in learning and getting these challenges? So that's really, really important and I think it's a great way of the ongoing, never ending recovery. Um, I also think that, um, we have people that write what we're talking about. We have people that are learning how to post things and using programs that we have access to with Brain Injury Network. Um, and we work as a team together on how to communicate with one another. How to use different roles like Google, and WhatsApp, and, um, Spotify, and Buzzsprout. All these things that, unless you do a podcast, you have no idea what we're talking about. But, we do it, and we learn about it, and we challenge ourselves to do it, and how do we teach other people. So, I love it.

Brian: 19:13

So that really wraps up the year. Um, we're obviously planning for more expansion next year, not just if, you know, in Houston, but with both clubhouses. We got a big focus on, uh, really trying to bring in some more members that are, you know, maybe struggling with how to get to the clubhouses and things along those lines. So we're always keeping an eye on growth and really looking forward to how can we make this a better organization and make it serve those that need it better. So I appreciate you guys having me on today.

Carrie: 19:45

We appreciate you taking the time to be on.

Brian: 19:48

Thanks.

Carrie: 19:48

Thanks so much, Brian. Okay, and we're going to take a little break and a little pause. I'm going to remind everyone to click that like button, that share button, that notify button, whatever platform you're on, whatever button you need to click to get it to us, that we know that you like us, and we're going to take a little pause and we'll be right back.

Kezia: 20:06

Okay, so like Kerry has been mentioning, and I'm glad that you guys all have been listening to our conversation, uh, today is our 100th episode, and not only are we giving updates and recaps of what's been going on and what's to come, um, I'm also gonna be here to just give a little update, uh, kind of some personal information, but I think with all of our listeners that have been hearing my voice for quite some time now, it's really important to share. So I, like I've been saying, I'm so proud of the podcast, the work that the team has been doing for the two and a half past years, and also what Brain Injury Network has been providing as an opportunity and really like, yeah, basically an opportunity to make this huge commitment. Um, I hope I don't cry because I definitely cried earlier. Um, but it definitely has been a very difficult and challenging option. Um, to make a decision to make, um, but I am no longer going to be a co host or a basically committed like every Thursday kind of co host. Um, you might see me around here and there if I am needed. Um, not because I just want to leave because I definitely do not. But I am going back to school and that is something that I definitely intend to do. I'm very thankful of, um, for, and specifically, uh, Brain Injury Survivors and members I have met here at Brain Injury Network clubhouses, and that is definitely something that I've been debating about doing for the past couple of years about going back to school and moving forward with my life, but hearing about their experiences and they inspire me to continue going and moving forward because I knew a couple years ago that my life was definitely not going to be the same that I had in Chicago so and before the stroke. So hearing from members and a lot of people that are here in the podcast right now that you may not see as well but um, they're they're really the ones that are like inspiring me to move on forward and that and making me sure that I can I can do it and believe in myself so Because of that, it does take a lot of time to study and to do all these things. So I do have to step, take a step back as a co host. I'm here, I'm still going to be here supporting all the members and the work that's being done. And then continue feeling, uh, supporting and being inspired by all the work that we listen to.

Carrie: 22:34

Yeah, I'm not letting her off the hook to go away completely. She's, whenever I need help, I'm calling her still.

Kezia: 22:40

Of course. I do want to just say that just because I've been doing the podcast for a while now and being a member of Brain Injury Network, it still makes life very hard. I still have a lot of difficulties to do. I still have some limitations. I still have seizures. I still don't drive. I blame the seizures, but I'm also a city girl and driving sucks. But anyway, um, I still have limitations. So for all of our listeners, it's not that you, I, you just turn perfect and from one day or another, um, there's still a lot of challenges and you're just decisions that at some point you got to trust on yourself to make, um, and believe in yourself that you're going to be able to do it. My goal is to basically go back to school, and I do want to be a speech pathologist. It might take a little longer than, than, you know, a 20 year old, um, you know, student. Might take me a little longer, but I'm willing to take that. I had to learn how to walk and talk for the second time around, so let's go back to school for the second time around too. There you go. Um, and also just not to make this all like, oh no, this sucks. Um, I'm also super excited that me leaving to, uh, this position, um, it's opening this position to somebody else. So, um, We're here to introduce her and you might already see her or maybe have heard her a little bit, but her name is Brittany and she is a member of Brain Injury Network in Fort Worth. And we're here also to meet her and introduce her to you guys. So welcome, Brittany.

Brittany: 24:29

Thank you for having me.

Carrie: 24:30

And we're so excited as much as Kezia's talking about how much she hates driving in the city. We appreciate you driving all the way from Fort Worth to Plano.

Brittany: 24:36

Oh, yes.

Kezia: 24:39

So, uh, since we know you, Karen, I know you. Uh, can you introduce yourself a little bit to the members, um, and our listeners?

Brittany: 24:46

Well, I'm Brittany. Um, I, I was in a car wreck and August 30th, 2018, someone was speeding and they crashed into me. My airbags didn't deploy and I blacked out on impact. Then I woke up and that's why I say Pandora's box just opened. So I went to the doctor and my brain injury was actually neglected for seven months. So for seven months I was just sitting home laying on the floor, like, had no hope, had no purpose. But then after that I went and got help, got seen, they said you had a brain injury. So I start my therapy healing process. And at the time I was at school, so I had to take a semester off. But I actually did go back and finish school. And now I'm back in therapy, improving every day. So it's just like Kezia says, it's not going to happen in one day that you're better. It's going to be a long journey, a long process. And that's what I actually learned about, so.

Carrie: 25:44

Yeah, and I, we said Brittany's from BIND Fort Worth. Brittany is really one of the founding members of BIND Fort Worth. So she was in, I might have been here in Plano day one, Brittany was in Fort Worth day one. So we're very excited about that. And Brittany in the beginning, Fort Worth was only open one day a week. So Brittany would come to Plano once a week at least and help us do stuff around the clubhouse here. So she has been a member of both clubhouses. Well, actually, once you're a member of either any clubhouse in Texas, you can go to all the clubhouses. Once a member, always a member. But with that, we are we are planning to continue to grow and keeping our listeners and community updated with what is going on in the brain injury world. Um, we have new committed members, not just Brittany at both BIND and Plano Fort Worth. Um, but we have added the addition of an editor in Plano Fort Worth. Fort Worth, as well as we already have editors here in Plano. Um, and so we've been doing a lot of training with those editors to get everyone up to speed. We are still one of our biggest goals as we're looking to add more members so that we have multiple people trained for each role so that. If we have an editor get sick or wants to go on vacation, we have someone to fill in that role. If we have a sound engineer, we only have one sound engineer right now. So we only, well, we really don't even have a social media person. We're all just scrambling around to do it on our own, but, um, we do it as a team, but we would like to have dedicated members. So that's kind of where we're going. But also I just want to let you know, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon. It's not to say that someday I may, I don't know. I'm old enough. Maybe someday I'm gonna retire. I don't know. Um, so Brittany may not be the only face you see. We, we will add new hosts sometime. You've seen Carl. We'll have different co hosts, guest co hosts maybe come in from the different clubhouses just to see, you know, who might be interested in being a backup for us because sometimes people go on vacation at the same time. So we're trying to figure out all that stuff and you will still see Kezia as a backup co host. You may see her virtually. She may not be able to get to the clubhouse with her busy schedule, but now that we have the ability to virtual, I don't know if y'all noticed, we've done, I think, three or four, um, virtual, but that's exciting, too, for us to be able to do all these virtual episodes so that we can reach more people. People that we normally wouldn't get to talk to outside of the DFW area. And we also want to let you know, we are going to take a little winter break after this episode until the first of the year, again, to continue that training for new members to learn new skills. And then also in the new year, since we're adding all these new people in training, we are probably going to go to publishing every other Thursday, as opposed to every Thursday, because we've been cranking that out. We tried to get ahead so that we could. Stay ahead and we could do that, but it's getting a little daunting. So again, we are a little slower than everyone else, um, in a good way. And we want to make sure we are providing you quality podcasts. So that's why we're going to do that, but don't worry. Um, we'll still keep updating you on Instagram on Thursday, Tuesdays. If we don't have anything on Thursday, we'll keep doing that. Um, but so with that, I hope everyone has, it's a little early to say it, but you know, a good rest of the year and happy holidays and all that fun stuff.

Brittany: 28:54

Yeah, so basically what Carrie said, we're not going away, we're still going to record. So we're still going to recording, it's just, we're going to plan it better. So for 2025, we're going to actually do everything in advance now. So, basically how to build the podcast, how to meet people, how to get them in here to talk to them. And then because we're all brain injury survivors, yeah, so we can meet in person and then we can also do it virtual like she said so we're not going away we're just gonna take a little break

Kezia: 29:27

Yep, and obviously I Hope that everyone has been getting the best information out of the whole team. Um, this has been a great uh for basically four people and one table, um, kind of a conversation. So it's been great. So I want to thank all of our listeners to sticking around with us and, uh, to continue listening to us on Thursdays and then come 2025 every other Thursday, but don't forget about our social media posts.

Carrie: 29:55

That's right. And again, as always, if you would like to contact us, you can email us at bindwaves@thebind.Org. Follow us on Instagram at@BINDwaves and visit the website at theBIND.org/BINDwaves.

Brittany: 30:13

And then also don't forget to share, like, subscribe on your favorite platforms and also hit notify on YouTube while listening to BINDwaves.

Carrie: 30:23

So until next time.

Kezia: 30:25

Until next time.

Brittany: 30:26

Until next time.

30:28

We hope you've enjoyed listening to BIND Waves and continue to support BIND and our non profit mission. We support brain injury survivors as they reconnect into the life, the community, and their workplace. And we couldn't do that without great listeners like you. We appreciate each and every one of you. Continue watching. Until next time. Until next time.